Daisy Bates led the NAACP branch in Arkansas and was in charge of the Little Rock school integration. Bates worked to organize a safe integration process and mentored the first students, known as the Little Rock Nine. Due to intense protests, President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent the Arkansas National Guard to ensure that the school integration could proceed. Protestors and advertisers boycotted the Arkansas State Press, an activist newspaper owned by Daisy and her husband Lucius Christopher Bates. The Bates suffered financial difficulties due to their outspoken integration efforts. The “Dollars for Daisy Bates Trust Fund” was set up to provide much needed funds to the Bates.
Trigg Mary K. and Alison R. Bernstein, eds. Junctures in Women’s Leadership: Social Movements. New Brunswick: Rutgers, 2016.
Description
Envelope for a letter from the Dollars for Daisy Bates Trust Fund. The envelope has [D F Daisy / The DOUGLASS / STATE / BANK] in blank text in the upper left from Kansas City, Kansas. The center of the envelope has printed text which reads [Rev. V.K. Stokes / Trinity Baptist Church / 1526 McCullob [sic] St. / Baltimore, Md.]. There are three stamps in blue ink along the top, one for auto loans and two postage marks. The adhesive on the back envelope flap has yellowed.